The Washington critic., 1887-07-25
TWICE TEN YEARS.

door that was to take me back to school
for the spring term. My mother gave
me innumerable instructions, smoothed
my collar and adjusted my cap on my
head properly, then gave me kiss
and stood looking wistfully at me as
went down the walk and got into the
carriage.
A month or two later-it was June,
think-after hard struggle one after.
noon with some figures, all about
ship and cargo aud the profit and all
that, | went out to join the boys.
When / reached the play ground they
were gone, and there was nothing for
me to do but amuse myself as best |
could. strolled around the house
with my hands In my pockets. which
my mother had told me distinctly
must not do; and suddenly remember.
ing her instructions took them out
again, ana for want Of better amuse.
ment began to whistle.
Next to the school there was q pretty
cottage separated from the school
house by board fence. The two
houses were not one hundred feet apart,
and ] could look right through under
the trees, and there on the croquet
ground stood a girl, a trille younger
than myself, looking straight at me.
A boy who sees girl looking at him
feels very queer; remember that very
well. My hands went right into my
pockets, but remembering that was not
the correct thing to do In the presence
of girl, | took them directly out
again. Then concluded that II would
be good way to show how little was
embarrassed by turning twice round
on my heel, movement on which /
greatly prided myself. After that-I
don't remember now, 1t was so long
ago, what new capers l cut; but one
thing is very certain: 1t was not long
before was hunting for something /
pretended to have lost In the grass be.
side the fence.
"If it's your knife you've lost" /
heard a voice say, at isn't there. l
picked up knife there week ago,
but it was all rusty and no good"
ooh, never mind, said, looking up
into two eyes away back In q sunbon.
net, and prevaricating 'it wasn't much
of knife, anyway, and I've got au.
other"
Are you one of the boys at the
SCHOOL,"
eyes"
w hat reader are you in!'
THE Fourth"
"Do you study geography"
Eyes"
whats the Capital of the United
States?"
l scratched my head. 81 don't re.
member that admitted reluctantly.
'l'm first rate on capitals, but don't
remember that one."
why didn't you 60 of with the
boysf"
II was behind with my sums. cx-
pect they've gone to the river. like
n the woods pretty well, they're full of
squirrels"
"And snakes" she added.
u'm not afraid of snakes"
"And lizards"
Nor lizards. l suppose you're
. afraid to go there"
mo, I'm not,
'If you want to 60 there now, and
are afraid. don't mind going along,
just to keep off snakes and things"
She looked out at the woods. / can
see the slender, childish figure now,
leaning on the croquet mallet, delib.
erating-if such mental process can
be called deliberation, when the con.
clusion is predetermined-and long to
E be back twenty years, and fold 1t In
my arms. Suddenly, without any
warning, she dropped the mallet and
started for the wood.
We had not penetrated far into Its
quiet depths, when the little girl
stopped, and looking earnestly at me
with her expressive eyes, said:
"How still 1t is in here 1t seems to
me can almost hear 1t be STILL"
"Yes, 1t Is pretty solemn" / replied.
Lets 60 on; the river winds around
down there and we can see the water
go over the dam"
We emerged from the wood and
stood by the river. / was familiar
with the ground and led my little
friend directly to the dam.
Most of the boys are afraid to walk
out on that dam" l said.
I'D be afraid"
"But you're only girl; boy
oughtn't to be afraid" With that I
started boldly out, occasionally stand.
ing on one foot and performing sundry
antics to show what brave boy | was.
Then | came part way back aud called
TO her TO come.
''Ohl no." she said, "Im afraid"
"Afraid! You little goosel with me
to hold on tor"
Betwixt her fear and q disposition
pliable to boy older and stronger than
herself, It was not long before l was
leading her out on the dam.
Don't you see it's nothing" l
said.
She shrunk back AS led her along
determined that she should go to a
point where the water poured over a
portion of the dam lower than the rest.
In vain she hung back; In vain she
pleaded with her voice and with her
eyes TO go no further. had determ.
ined to take her with Inc, and did
"There, you see, it's easy enough
when you once make up your mind
TO IT,.
We were standing looking out on the
moving waters. They had very dis
tressiHg effect on Julia. She looked
dazed, and held on to my arm in child.
ish terror.
alt makes me dizzy" she said.
"Let me step up on this post, and
then you can hold on to my hand"
turned my back to step up on the
post. 1t was but a moment. | heard Il
cry and saw Julia in the food. The
expression that was In her eyes is to
this day stamped clearly on my mem.
ory-an expression of mingled re
proach and forgiveness,
had never lived by the water, and
could scarcely swim dozen strokes;
but not a second had elapsed before
was in the flood.
swan, and struggled, and buffeted,
to reach her; all In vain. An eddy
whirled me In different direction,
My strength was soon exhausted i